Bring back 'dinosaurs' super quick

Dean Jones

I PLAYED in a wonderful era in which fast bowlers were tough and unbelievably quick. They didn't have capped teeth, gelled hair or tattoos. They wore the obligatory gold chain, had heaps of grunt and dished out old-fashioned sledging. Now these dinosaurs are no longer around. Nobody wants to bowl fast any more. Why?

Don't use the excuse that there is too much cricket. In my time, Merv Hughes and Craig McDermott bowled the same number of overs as fast bowlers do today. Yes, they played less international cricket, but they played and bowled more for their states and clubs.

But with the findings of the Argus report, I smell a change, a new attitude and a new outlook in Australian cricket.

People ask why Australia is fast-tracking these young quicks like Pat Cummins and James Pattinson? Simply, Australia wants to be No. 1 in Test cricket and history tells us that if you have the best and fastest bowlers, you will conquer the world!

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The great fast bowlers of the past were bowling at their quickest between 20 and 28 years of age. Look at the Australian attack - Mitchell Johnson is 30, Peter Siddle 27 and Shane Watson 30. That's why we must introduce these young, quality fast bowlers.

Countries that had gun spinners haven't ruled the world. India and Pakistan in the 1970s or '80s struggled. Sri Lanka didn't with Muthiah Muralidaran. Australia did have Shane Warne, who was a freak, but it had Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel and others to help him.

The main ingredient for Test success is bowlers who can bowl over 145km/h and be somewhat accurate. Then only three things can happen to a batsman if he misreads line and length. One, he misses it and it goes through to the keeper. Two, he gets out. Or three, he gets injured.

The West Indies were No. 1 in the world for 17 years (1979-'95). They had a plethora of fast bowlers. Clive Lloyd started this tactic after his team was smashed 5-1 by Australia in 1975, mainly due to the efforts of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. Lloyd decided that instead of having two fast bowlers, he would have four.

Throughout the '80s and '90s, the world was graced by these super quicks. Everyone had someone who bowled fast and furious. The West Indies had Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall, Colin Croft, Wayne Daniel, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Patrick Patterson, plus about five others. Pakistan had Imran Khan, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram; New Zealand had Richard Hadlee and Danny Morrison; South Africa had Allan Donald, Fanie de Villiers and Brian McMillan; England had Graham Dilley, Bob Willis, Ian Botham and later Darren Gough. Even Sri Lanka's Rumesh Ratnayeke and Graeme Labrooy could worry you. Today these dinosaurs are almost extinct.

In recent years, Australia has lost the Ashes because it lacked quality fast bowlers. In 2005, Australia lost to England because England had four quality fast bowlers -Simon Jones, Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard. Same result in 2009 courtesy of Stuart Broad, Harmison, Flintoff and James Anderson, and in 2010-11 through Chris Tremlett, Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Broad and Steve Finn.

Australia must find at least four fast bowlers who bowl over or close to 145km/h. Only Siddle regularly gets over 145km/h, Copeland is in the mid-120s and needs more physical development, while Johnson sporadically gets his speed over 145km/h. Watson's days as a true all-rounder could be numbered.

The key is Johnson. Recently I have noticed his bowling speed is down. We know Johnson is not the most accurate bowler, but he got away with it because he was super quick.

Now, batsmen are catching up with his poor deliveries. When he last played South Africa in 2009, he was bowling over 150km/h and he got 16 wickets in three Tests. He made the top order very jumpy.

The problem is that he will turn 30 next week. Shorter, faster spells are the key to his longevity.

Captain Michael Clarke needs to rethink how he uses his No. 1 bowler.

Johnson not only has to bowl quicker, but Clarke has to use him at times when batsmen don't want to bat - just before or after lunch and tea intervals, and before stumps. Hadlee was a master at this. I believe Clarke will open up with Siddle and use youngster Cummins. That is bad news for young Copeland, but he just hasn't got enough revs at the moment.

One thing is sure, Australia has Pattinson in its sights and is searching for more young super quicks. To find more quicks, I would raise the ante on their wages. We want Australian kids to bowl fast and reward them in the process.

I hate being an old fogey, but the reason we are seeing these inflated and exaggerated batting averages is because there are no super quicks, apart from Dale Steyn. Have a real hard think, does anyone bowl quick any more?

Many people raised their eyebrows when the great New Zealand batsman Martin Crowe announced he was coming out of retirement. Let me tell you that ''Hogan'' is no dummy! There is a lot of cash going around and no fast bowlers to worry him! With Australia going for a new coach and selectors soon, maybe I still have a chance for a comeback?

If only I could lose 10 kilos and get that golf club out of my hand.

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